Viewpoint: Nostalgia vs. Speculation

Andrei Arlovski was the centerpiece of the World Series of
Fighting’s first two shows. | Photo: Dave
Mandel/Sherdog.com

The true stars of the
World Series of Fighting’s sophomore effort did not come with
“former” or “onetime” or “previous” attached to their
accomplishments.

For fighters like Marlon
Moraes and Justin
Gaethje, WSOF
2 was all about building their resumes so that one day, they
too can eventually ride the coattails of their former selves. You
cannot blame the WSOF for following the model it did. On a Saturday
with the NCAA Tournament in full swing, fans are not going to tune
in to watch bouts based on potential alone.

That is why former
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight titleholder Andrei
Arlovski and onetime UFC welterweight Anthony
Johnson headlined the event at the Revel Resort and Casino in
Atlantic City, N.J. They are known commodities that have done some
of their finest work on the sport’s biggest stage. Never mind that
both men have been the object of derision in recent years, Arlovski
for his chin and Johnson for his ever-fluctuating weight.

Both had also scored emphatic first-round knockouts in the
promotion’s debut, and a potential bout between the two, one which
had never really been previously considered, definitely had a
certain appeal. Could Arlovski, unbeaten in his last five outings,
continue his resurgence while avoiding the power of his opponent?
Could Johnson, 4-0 since being released by the UFC, be as effective
without his accustomed size advantage?

In the end, the main event provided about five minutes of real
intrigue, culminating in Johnson’s near-stoppage of the Belarusian
in the final 10 seconds of the opening frame. From there, it was
two rounds of “meh,” with “Rumble” abandoning the standup that had
his foe reeling in favor of futile takedown attempts, most of which
resulted in restarts by referee Kevin Mulhall as the action stalled
against the cage. Meanwhile, Arlovski, perhaps still wary after
Johnson’s initial salvo, quietly found his range but was never able
to pull the trigger enough to truly sway the momentum in his
favor.

Photo: D.
Mandel/Sherdog.com

Moraes’ star is on the rise.

It was exactly the type of matchup that demonstrated why neither
man is currently under Zuffa employ. In brief flashes, they can
demonstrate why they are marketed as highly regarded former
superstars, but in the long run, the consistency is simply not
there; and that is OK, because if you made it that far into the
broadcast, the WSOF hopes you tuned in to catch the exploits of
Moraes and Gaethje, as well.

Yes, the WSOF will receive its fair share of criticism each time it
signs a prominent name that has been exiled from another
organization.

The Las Vegas-based promotion had to be experiencing at least a
twinge of buyer’s remorse as Paulo Filho
lay listlessly on the mat while David
Branch counted out his punches in a lopsided bout that aired as
part of the main card on the NBC Sports Network. Though he was once
thought of as one of the world’s top middleweights, the WSOF should
have recognized that the baggage accompanying the former
World Extreme Cagefighting titlist made him a risky
acquisition. Moreover, unlike Arlovski or Johnson, Filho was
already so far removed from the mainstream consciousness that he
could no longer be considered a selling point for the card.

The Filho gaffe aside, the WSOF seems to be moving in the right
direction, assuming it continues to strike the right balance
between prospects and once-upon-a-timers. The co-main event saw
Moraes, who knocked off Miguel
Torres at WSOF 1, take down fellow rising talent Tyson Nam, who
made a name for himself last summer by knocking out Bellator
MMA 135-pound king Eduardo
Dantas. Gaethje, a
Grudge Training Center export, was impressive in earning a
doctor’s stoppage against Gesias
Cavalcante earlier in the evening. Outside of the hardcore fan,
not a lot of people knew about Moraes or Gaethje heading into the
show, but at least a few more are probably aware of their presence
now.

In reality, the relationship between stars of the past and future
is symbiotic for fledging organizations such as the WSOF. Without
the big names, there would be no NBC deal and no opportunity to
build a brand. Without the up-and-comers, there would be no
foundation because relying exclusively on yesterday’s stars can be
a risky proposition.

For example, there is no guarantee that recent WSOF signee Jon Fitch, who
exited the UFC with his top 10 welterweight ranking intact, will be
the same guy who for a time was better than every 170-pounder not
named Georges St.
Pierre. Age, motivation, money and a variety of other external
factors can play a significant role as a fighter transitions from
one promotion to another. Just ask Bellator how making Muhammed
Lawal the figurehead of its Season 8 debut on Spike TV turned
out.

Comparisons will inevitably be drawn between WSOF and Bellator for
as long as both companies exist. At the moment, Bjorn Rebney’s
promotion is winning the competition for No. 2 organization behind
the UFC, thanks in no small part to its presence on the
MMA-friendly Spike TV. While Bellator is roundly praised for its
ability to develop talent from within, and rightly so, it has also
made its share of big-name publicity grabs. If this were not true,
then fighters such as Renato
Sobral, Brett
Rogers and Seth
Petruzelli would not occupy roster spots.

If the fates allow WSOF to make it past its first year of existence
-- never a guarantee -- there should be less reliance on recycled
names and more investment in the likes of Moraes and Gaethje. For
now, enjoy the mix of nostalgia and speculation that the promotion
provides. One cannot exist without the other.